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The group of professional illustrators in Japan
ILLUSTRATORS TSUSHIN Illustration Competition
Results announcement of the 1st ILLUSTRATORS TSUSHIN Illustration Competition
Examiners
AMINAKA Izuru, KIUCHI Tatsuro, MORI Ryuichiro
The first prize winner
Selected
HIRANO Toshiyuki、KITAZAWA Kenji、IZAWA Naoko、RYUJIN Takayuki、HAYAKAWA Yasuko、MACHIYAMA Koutarou、NAGAI Jun、Syouichi、YAMASHITA Ito、MIYAKI Michiru
Passer of primary choice
YAMAMOTO Masaaki、 MASUKO Hikari、 SATOU Humitaka、 KOMAI Kazuaki、 NAKAMURA Youko、 OUMI Kazuhiro、 SAITO Takashi、YAMAGUCHI Tamae、ADACHI Masato、 WATANABE Motomu、 IHUKU Kazuhiko、 TANAKA Ryosuke、 CLARKSON Ruri、 KOSHII Takashi
The first prize winner
TAKAYORI, Naoko
"I have loved to paint pictures since my childhood."
But I have quitted painting after I finished class work of art at junior high school.
3 years ago, I came to know "Illustration Aoyama-Juku", a school of painting picture, in Aoyama Book Center. As I visited there for study, the school was in a good atmosphere, and the teachers guided us very kindly, so I decided to enter it.
The school had a rule that we should submit "a doodle book"; we had to hand in to the teacher a small sketchbook on which one could draw anything we liked.
I roughly sketched my personal belongings, people´s faces from photographs from newspapers or magazines, and landscapes in it.
"Your lines have savor, it is good." Thus I was praised by the teacher, and it made me pleasant, so I got to paint more and more.
All words of the teacher penetrated quickly to my heart before my mind realized it, so I could paint following his advice without question.
And the fact that there were many students who had a lot of skills also served as an incentive.
I intended to attend it for one year, but I attended actually for two years.
I was afraid that I might withdraw from painting if I stopped going to school, because of my character to warm up and cool down easily. So I tried my skill by applying to competitions occasionally.
I was selected for the prize "Choice" on "Illustration" by the judge of KIUCHI, Tatsuro at May 2009. That gave me a great self-confidence.
Regarding this competition, I didn´t think that I was given the first prize. I feel much honored. Thank you very much.
I owe it to my family who have ovserved me warmly to paint pictures. My husband has often given his opinions and supports.
I have been engaged in jobs of web design for about 8 years.
I sometimes use computer generated pictures created on my Mac, but I am attracted by lines of hand drawn works more than that written by software. I intend to use both, computer generated pictures and hand-drawn pictures from now on.
And as the work of web can not be touched by hand, I´d like to do jobs of Magazines or Books, which can take shapes to outside.
I am always seeking the landscapes which inclines me to paint.
I like factories and harbors. A energetic trail of smoke and ships which come and go in the sea make my heart beat.
On holidays I go out to sketch or to take pictures. And then, I swell the images and start to paint a picture.
I paint my pictures on illustration boards using acrylic colors and colored pencils. In some cases, I made a rough sketch and painted, in other cases, I painted in colors abruptly.
I am interested in a method which mixes analogue and digital, but I´d like to continue still to paint by hand.
I think that I must paint more hereafter. I´d like to continue painting at my own pace.
And I hope to hold an exhibition of my own works in the future.
But I have quitted painting after I finished class work of art at junior high school.
3 years ago, I came to know "Illustration Aoyama-Juku", a school of painting picture, in Aoyama Book Center. As I visited there for study, the school was in a good atmosphere, and the teachers guided us very kindly, so I decided to enter it.
The school had a rule that we should submit "a doodle book"; we had to hand in to the teacher a small sketchbook on which one could draw anything we liked.
I roughly sketched my personal belongings, people´s faces from photographs from newspapers or magazines, and landscapes in it.
"Your lines have savor, it is good." Thus I was praised by the teacher, and it made me pleasant, so I got to paint more and more.
All words of the teacher penetrated quickly to my heart before my mind realized it, so I could paint following his advice without question.
And the fact that there were many students who had a lot of skills also served as an incentive.
I intended to attend it for one year, but I attended actually for two years.
I was afraid that I might withdraw from painting if I stopped going to school, because of my character to warm up and cool down easily. So I tried my skill by applying to competitions occasionally.
I was selected for the prize "Choice" on "Illustration" by the judge of KIUCHI, Tatsuro at May 2009. That gave me a great self-confidence.
Regarding this competition, I didn´t think that I was given the first prize. I feel much honored. Thank you very much.
I owe it to my family who have ovserved me warmly to paint pictures. My husband has often given his opinions and supports.
I have been engaged in jobs of web design for about 8 years.
I sometimes use computer generated pictures created on my Mac, but I am attracted by lines of hand drawn works more than that written by software. I intend to use both, computer generated pictures and hand-drawn pictures from now on.
And as the work of web can not be touched by hand, I´d like to do jobs of Magazines or Books, which can take shapes to outside.
I am always seeking the landscapes which inclines me to paint.
I like factories and harbors. A energetic trail of smoke and ships which come and go in the sea make my heart beat.
On holidays I go out to sketch or to take pictures. And then, I swell the images and start to paint a picture.
I paint my pictures on illustration boards using acrylic colors and colored pencils. In some cases, I made a rough sketch and painted, in other cases, I painted in colors abruptly.
I am interested in a method which mixes analogue and digital, but I´d like to continue still to paint by hand.
I think that I must paint more hereafter. I´d like to continue painting at my own pace.
And I hope to hold an exhibition of my own works in the future.
Selected
HIRANO, Toshiyuki
E-mail：info*hiranotoshiyuki.jp(Please change * to @ when you contact with.)
URL：http://www.hiranotoshiyuki.jp
URL：http://www.hiranotoshiyuki.jp
Selected
KITAZAWA, Kenji
TEL：045-338-1370／090-4416-5698
URL：http://home.catv-yokohama.ne.jp/kk/kitazawa/
URL：http://home.catv-yokohama.ne.jp/kk/kitazawa/
Selected
IZAWA, Naoko
E-mail：punini*kind.ocn.ne.jp(Please change * to @ when you contact with.)
URL：http://www17.ocn.ne.jp/~punini/
URL：http://www17.ocn.ne.jp/~punini/
Selected
RYUJIN,Takayuki
E-mail：ryujing*yb3.so-net.ne.jp(Please change * to @ when you contact with.)
URL：http://www.tap-room.net/
URL：http://www.tap-room.net/
Selected
HAYAKAWA,Yasuko
E-mail：nene-piyo825*sunny.ocn.ne.jp(Please change * to @ when you contact with.)
URL：http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~nenepiyo/
URL：http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~nenepiyo/
Selected
MACHIYAMA, Koutarou
Selected
NAGAI, Jun
Selected
Syouichi
E-mail：syoo_01*yahoo.co.jp(Please change * to @ when you contact with.)
URL：http://syouichino.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/
URL：http://syouichino.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/
Selected
YAMASHITA, Ito
E-mail：ito-tk*post.email.ne.jp(Please change * to @ when you contact with.)
URL：http://www.ne.jp/asahi/itoyamashita/com/
URL：http://www.ne.jp/asahi/itoyamashita/com/
Selected
MIYAKI, Michiru
Judgement Report of the 1st ILLUSTRATORS TSUSHIN Illustration Competition
In spite of our first trial, we had 572 applications of works by 128 applicants in this competition.
We copied down the collected works into DVD and sent them to each examinor.
They judged them in their offices or studios at their free time on the base of the DVD. We had conferences by E-mail.
At first, we requested examinors to pick out any illustrators whom they appreciate.
The applicants who had been mentioned by name by over 2 examinors remained selected.
And among those who were not selected, each examinor could choose one more to add the list.
We made the remainders at this point the passer of primary choice.
Next, final selection was done from those who passed the primary selection.
We took a method that the examinors gave marks to the each applicant on the scale of 10.
As a result of this process, the No.one is TAKAYORI, Naoko. The No.two is HIRANO, Toshiyuki by one point difference. The No.three is KITAZAWA, Kenji. These 3 person were marked at a little defferences, and had a close contest for the first prize.
We had a conference here again, and we agreed that TAKAYORI, Naoko win the first prize.
And 10 top-marked persons except TAKAYORI were determined as "Selected".
Thus, the first prize and the selected have been decided.
I am glad that every work is attractive, and the creator of which are ready to become driving forces of the future of the world of Illustration.
Unfortunately, the unsuccesful candidate may be just short of luck. Next time you will create a good piece of work that will inspire the judge to choose you.
We hope to every candidate the bright future.
Examinor´s Comment
AMINAKA, Izuru
Profile :
Illustrator. She engaged in producing illustrations for the tools of sales promotion in the period employed in a select shop, and became independent in 2002. At present, she engages in the wide spectrum of works such as books illustrations, picture books, magazines and advertisements. As main works, illustrations of the series "Akage no anne (Anne of Green Gables) classic version of perfect translation", picture book "Akai Kutsu", designing T-shirt of Uniqlo on spring-summer season of 2009, and so on. She won "Peter prize" in 1999, the grand prix at TIS public subscription of professional section in 2003, and Illustraion prize in the publishing culture prize of Kodansha.
Comment :
I took charge of an important task requested by Mr.Mori. But I think it is difficult to choose a picture.
I have been examiner for several times, but at each time I wavered round and round being overstrained.
I could not select one among the works which had diverse and strong individualities and were painted on various theme. I had no choice but to choose one which I liked. It was really difficult. But the task was full of fun.
I think it is recent tendency that a lot of applicants paint "faraway scenes", as is in other competitions. Of course, I appreciate delightful and extensive landscapes very much, but I am attracted by a charming portrait in the works. The face of a person is likely to appeal strongly to watchers.
Every applicant who was selected has great capacity. They are commonly applied several works from which I could image their views of the world.
As many of them play the active parts in the world of illustration, their works have stabilities.
The works painted carefully by Ms.Takayori who won the first prize, fully attract me.
The series of works which painted harbor are full of charm. But just one work of woman portrait is very nice. I think it suits book design.
I hope that she will try to paint on various themes, in course of more paintings.
I am looking forward to the change in her painting through it.
By the way, every time I look at applicant´s works on competition, I am surprised at the fact that many people have good skills. Their skills are far more excellent than that of my new-face period.
I felt that I was forced to get stuck into my work.
KIUCHI, Tatsuro
Profile :
Born in Tokyo, in 1966. After graduating in biology at International Christian University, he had been in America. He graduated from Art Center College of Design. As main works, comic "Chikyuzuin"( written by KIUCHI, Tatsuro, Shinchosha), picture book "Hyouga Nezumi no Kegawa" (written by MIYAZAWA, Kenji, Kaiseisha), Chiristmas stamp of Royal Mail of the United Kingdom in 2006, Starbucks Christmas campeign 2007,and so on. He won the publishing culture prize of Kodansha.
Comment :
I had a lot of opportunities in 2009 to judge at competitions, such as "Choice", "TIS competition" and "Illustration Tsushin" .
I often found the works in each competition, which painted only a single person or object. I think such works are difficult to rank high, or to be selected.
It is of no use to paint whimsically only one person or an object.
Moreover, one who habitually selects and paints a single person or a object capriciously, even if he/she pictures its background, is regarded as dealing with it easily, thinking to fill the space afterwards.
I can understand this frame of mind, from my personal experience. I remember that when I was in senior high school, as I was fond of American football, I painted a player taking nice pose which was found in picture on a magazine, but wasn´t satisfied as the surrounding was empty. So I added something like lines representing its speed and filled the space. It is no wonder that a high school student who did not know what illustration is did so. I looked at the picture and wished only to paint it without aim.
On job, the motif to paint comes from external. It is almost impossible to prepare beforehand the motif which one likes to paint. If you work as illustrator, when you are asked by cliant to paint an American football illustration, you have to decide by yourself where, what player and what pose he should take, on condition that you follow what the cliant requests, and express it in your own way.
The aim of competition or promotion is to obtain works. For this purpose, it is important to show your ability to express the world views which are demanded, instead of showing the works which you whimsically paint. The works which are painted incoherently have no power of persuasion.
Then, what should we do? You will be able to find the motifs and the way to paint them in the proper surroundings, if you produce imaginary works, by reading novels and essays and working out advertisement. It is neccessary to produce, playing the roll of the art director and ordering to yourself the works. If you can paint works which have such view of the world, you would be easily able to answer it, even if you accept a demand to paint a single person or object. The converse does not hold.
MORI, Ryuichiro
Profile :
Born in Osaka, in 1964. He acts as the director of ILLUSTRATORS TSUSHIN. As main works, the illustration for novel "Nagisa no Biyaku", written by SHIGEMATSU, Kiyoshi, serial novel in "Shukan Post". Illustrations for serial novel in newspaper "Cassiopeia no Oka de" written by SHIGEMATSU, Kiyoshi, appearing in "Shinano Mainichi" or else, Illustrations for serial novel of newspaper "Tekirai no Hate", written by OZAKI, Yoshio, appearing in "Nagasaki Shinbun" or else, Illustrations for serial novel of newspaper "Korekara" written by SUGIYAMA, Takao, appearing in "Kitanihon Shinbun" or else, and so on. He acts mainly in illustrations for novels and book designings.
Comment :
Among a lot of entries for this competitions, I was fascinated first of all by the works of Ms.TAKAYORI, Naoko and that of Mr.HIRANO, Toshiyuki.
I thought in the first impression that "Either of the two is to win the first prize."
Both of the two have a steady "views of the world", and can cause profond emotion to viewers. I thought that they have an ability with future.
Then, what is the "the views of the world"?
As human being, we each have different souls and see the world in their own ways. This is reflected as "a view of the world" in our works.
For example, when 100 illustrators are given the theme of a rose, there will be undoubtedly 100 kind of illustrations of roses, because we each have different souls and views of the world.
When I face that theme, I don´t paint the present rose but try to paint my soul which is affected at the sight of the rose.
In case of other motif, like a person or a landscape, I will do the same.
Every time I paint, my work is nothing but my self-portrait that expresses my soul. Every work represents me.
I think that in this way the works express its "views of the world" and are able to fascinate the viewers.
All artists, as well as Illustrators, are to be musical instruments or players transmitting one´s impression, emotion and their views of the world to their viewers and resonating with them.
This faculty may be called "a talent". But I believe it is not given naturally to the particular people, but gained by the ordinary people through persistant efforts.
To intensify one´s "view of the world", it is important to meet with superior works in various genres, to expose yourself to other masterpiece and to be impressed deeply more than the others, not to mention to paint much, In addition to that, I think it is necessary to ask time after time one´s soul "What is the world? How is it seen by me?".
I expressed a fragment of my way of creation in this article.
But it is just my own way. There is not one and only answer in the world of illustrations. There the value lies in differences.
I hope you will find the way for your own use.
We should make efforts each other all day and every day, let´s try it.
Exhibition of ILLUSTRATORS TSUSHIN Illustration Competition
The winners of the 1st competition of ILLUSTRATORS TSUSHIN hold the exhibition for 1 month.
Date:from 1 May 2010, Saturday to 31 May 2010, Monday (during exhibition, open at Saturday, Sunday and festival days)
Time:from 10:00 to 19:00 (at the last day to 17:00)
Place:Malbu Gallery (3-18-5 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo /phone +81-3-5926-6772)
http://malpu.com/gallery/gallery.html
*The award-giving ceremony and party is to start at 17:00 on 15 May, Saturday. The three examinor are going to be present. Anyone can be present. Please come to join together.
The Sponsor
Professional Illustrators Group ILLUSTRATORS TSUSHIN
5-3-5, Nishihara-cho, Nishi-tokyo-city, Tokyo, 188-0004, JAPAN
phone & fax:+81-42-452-6455(Mori Illustration Office)
E-mail:office@illustrators.jp